Menopause Mondays: Women and the Prevention of Heart Disease

My father experienced his first heart attack at the age of 42 in 1963. He was a very strong, dynamic, and accomplished businessman, loving father, and husband. In those days, doctors could only prescribe a stringent, low fat diet, the use of margarine instead of butter1, and exercise. There were no medications available to clear or slow the clogging of his arteries. At 48, Dad was sent to Houston where Dr. Denton Cooley performed open-heart surgery on him. I remember our family, crowded around my Dad’s bedside, while listening to Dr. Cooley explain that high cholesterol results in clogged arteries, and that high cholesterol was hereditary. I was a young teenager at the time, feeling invincible, and not making the connection that this news had any bearing on my life in any way.

After the surgery, when we arrived back in Tucson, my parents insisted that I have my cholesterol checked. When I heard the results, I thought the lab had confused my fathers test results with mine. They indicated that my cholesterol level was alarmingly high. I felt great – a normal, energetic teenager. However instantly, my life changed, as I immediately connected my father’s health issues with my own sense of wellness. As I watched my father heal from his surgery, the value of good health became crystal clear to me. The health benefits from my father’s surgery lasted 10 years. Then, the angina came back, and Dad returned to Houston. This time, the doctors sent him home because his weakened body could not handle surgery. My family hoped for a miracle solution that never came. My world crumbled as I watched my Dad’s health continue to deteriorate. Sadly, my beloved father died of arteriosclerosis and heart disease at 58 years young.

I am living proof that a heart-healthy lifestyle and the effective use of preventative medicines are as important as hereditary predispositions. Since that long-ago, life-shifting intervention by Dr. Cooley, I have been proactive about my health.

Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States? In the United States, a woman suffers from a heart attack every 90 seconds.2 However, most of these heart attacks could be avoided if women made better heart healthy choices such as diet, exercise, and not smoking. After menopause, women are more at risk for developing heart disease partly because our bodies produce less estrogen. Women who go through early menopause either naturally or medically induced (as a result of a hysterectomy or medication) are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause. Make certain that you have a yearly physical that includes a heart-healthy screening. Your risks of heart disease may increase if you are overweight, smoke, or if you have high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, or diabetes. To help understand your own personal risks of heart disease and what you can do to avoid it, reach out to your physician and discuss the following possible tests to evaluate your risks:

Know the symptoms of a heart attack for women as they present differently than in men. They can be more subtle than chest pains. Women often have blockage not only in their main arteries but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart. Take note of the following symptoms:

Thanks to my experience with my father, I developed an early awareness of my cardiovascular health risks. This knowledge inspired me to a heart-healthy lifestyle. I also have continued to educate myself on the subject and have benefited from scientific breakthroughs in treatment and prevention. Because of this, I recently received a wonderful gift. I celebrated my 59th birthday.

Remember my motto: Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!

Tell me: What’s stopping you from living a heart-healthy lifestyle?

I love heart health!

1The butter vs. margarine debate continues, but the current recommendation from the American Heart Association is soft, trans-fat-free spreads instead of regular butter or stick margarine.

After struggling with her own severe menopause symptoms and doing years of research, Ellen resolved to share what she learned from experts and her own trial and error. Her goal was to replace the confusion, embarrassment, and symptoms millions of women go through–before, during, and after menopause–with the medically sound
solutions she discovered. Her passion to become a “sister” and confidant to all women fueled Ellen’s first book, Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness. As a result of the overwhelming response from her burgeoning audiences and followers’ requests for empowering information they could trust, Ellen’s weekly blog, Menopause MondaysTM, was born.

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ELLEN, Oh wow. This story is such a revelation. First I am so sorry about the loss of your father at such a young age. Second. I SIMPLY cannot believe you are 59. You inspire me girl. Also, your advice is solid and should be considered by ALL!

Thank you Pat. I miss him every day. I also thank him for it was witnessing his health deteriorate at such a young age, that it planted a seed in me to educate myself and pass that information on to others about health, heart disease, aging. To prevent others from going through devastating health issues compelled me to write the book, create the website and work hard to help educate and empower incredible women like you. Thanks again for reading this and passing it along.

I left this comment on GenFab site and I will leave it here. Let me add this is such useful information that I shared it on FB. You are the best, Ellen.

“My heart bleeds for you, Ellen. The loss of your beloved father at such a young age must have been devastating. His gift to you was finding your own health as a priority. You make him proud each day you help yourself and others.:

Cathy, we have twin ESP power as what you’ve said is exactly what I wrote to Pat above. Times in medicine were different when my father passed away… Today we have so many resources at our fingertips. I try to sort through the information and present to women the tidbits that may help them make educated decisions about their health. You are the best, Cathy, for reading and keeping yourself informed. Knowledge is power. Hugs, Ellen